Infant incubator



May 12, 1953 R. LIVSEY 2,638,087

INFANT INCUBATOR Filed Oct. 18, 1949 5 Sheets-Sherv 2 INVENTOR. RALPH LIVSEY WMM ATTORNEY May 12, 1953 R vs 'y 7 2,638,087

INFANT INCUBATOR Filed Oct. 18, 1949 3 Sheecs$hee*v 3 INVENTOR.

J 1 F167 \EB 64 42 BBALPH LIVSEY v ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" lNFANT INCUBATOR Ralph Livsey, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application October 18, 1949, Serial No. 122,088

This invention relates, as indicated, to an infant incubator.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an incubator of the character described, having novel means for uniformly heating the infant-receiving compartment of the incubator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an incubator of the character described, having novel and improved means for ventilating the infant-receiving compartment of the incubator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an infant incubator in the form of a portable cabinet having self-contained means for warming garments and blankets used for the infant.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of heating unit, which easily removable and replaceable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

l is a front plan view of the incubator;

2 is a top plan view of the incubator;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the incubator,

as viewed from the left side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the incubator, as viewed from. the right side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, on

enlarged scale, taken on the line I-I of Fig. 1:

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram, showing the electrical features of the incubator.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the incubator will be seen to comprise a front wall I and side walls 2 and 3, these being formed from a single sheet of metal, which has been blanked to provide a rectangular opening 4 in the front wall I. This rectangular opening is closed by a clear glass plate 5, preferably made of safety glass, which is secured rearwardly of the front wall I, as by a rectangular frame 6.

Secured within a channel I, formed at the upper edge of the walls I, 2 and 3, is an asbestos seal or gasket 8, upon which the flange 9 of a lid or cover Ill rests, when the lid is closed. The lid or cover I0 is also provided with a rectangular opening II, which is closed by a clear safety 2 Claims. (01. 1231) glass plate I2, secured to the cover as by a frame I3.

The lid or cover it, is pivotally secured, as by a hinge M (Fig. 8) to the upper edge of a plate I5. The plate I5 extends from the side wall 2 to the side wall 3, and is retained against displacement rearwardly, as by means of vertical inturned flanges I 5 at the rear edges of the walls 2 and 3. The plate l5 extends vertically downward, in parallel spaced relationship to the wall I,

' to form the rear wall of the incubator. A handle I! is secured to the front of the cover ID to facilitate raising and lowering of the cover.

The plate I5 also forms the rear wall of the compartment C of the incubator, in which the infant is placed, the bottom of this compartment being provided by a plate it, which also extends from the wall 2 to the wall 3 and from the plate I 5 to the front wall I, being provided with downturned flanges I8, which are welded to the walls I, 2 and 3.

The lower portion of the compartment C of the incubator is provided with a separator plate Zll, which partitions oil a small portion of the compartment to form a chamber, in which. a con tainer 2| is disposed, this container being normally filled with water, in order to provide a continuously humidified atmosphere within the incubator, which is created by the evaporation of the water.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a novel heating unit for supplying the desired incubation temperatures within the incubator. This unit comprises a rectangular base 22 having a front flange side flanges Hand 25, and a vertical rear wall 25, provided at its upper and side edges with flanges 2?. The side flanges 21 are coplanar with the flanges 24 and 25. The flanges 27 serve to space the wall 25 away from the wall i5 sumci ntly to provide a space for a purpose to be presently described. The flanges 2! are also provided at their inner edges with out-turned flanges 23 (Fig. 8), which are adapted to be secured to the wall I5, as by screws 29, for the purpose of removably securing the heating unit to the incubator.

The heating unit further includes a pair of spaced electric heating elements 3t, mounted on Z-bars 3 3a, so as to be in spaced relation to the base 22. Each of these elements consists of wires 3| embedded in suitable insulating material, and connected to a common source of alternating current, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 9. Mounted above these heatin elements is a heat radiating plate 33, having an extended radiating surface, as well aeeaoer as recesses 34 for the reception of additional heat radiating elements 35 and 35, which are preferably in the form of built up layers of asbestos. The heat radiating plate 33 is provided at its rear edge with a vertical flange 31, which extends upwardly into the space between the walls 15 and 26, in parallel relation to the latter. Additional heat absorbing elements, in the form of sheets 38 and corrugated sheets 3.), are secured to the lower surfacei-of thelplat erldfrand rear surface of the wall l5, asbe'st shown in Fig. 8. The sheets 38 and 39 are also preferably formed of asbestos.

The heat radiating elements 33, M, 35 and 35 absorb heat from the elements 30 and radiate this heat to the heat absorbing elements 38 and 39, thereby heatin the plate l8 and wall it sufficiently to provide a desired degree of heat within the incubator. This particular arrangement has 4 erence numeral it shows a neon glo indicating lamp or bulb, which, when lighted, affords a Visual indication that the heating units are in operation.

Means have also been provided or ventilating the incubator. For this purpose, a series of openings or slots M are provided in the side wall 3 of the incubator, adjacent the right end of the compartment C, as viewed in Fig. 5, the air entering-theseopenings and passing ::over the container 2 lywhere it ishumidified'and whence it passes through the compartment C and out been found highly efiicient and effective "to provide a uniform temperature within the entire incub'ator compartment Cr :Thisis in marked contrast to existing incubators of this type, in-w-hich the temperatu-rer.betweenv the lower and" upper "abortions; and between-one end and the other end 1303? the incubator, has been-found to vary as-much BBQGTfiBgTEGS.

T: 'Theheating:unit,:as thusdescribed-is insertaaible through rectangular opening ie in the wall lfipand is slid: into the position shown in 8; "chit-racks or guides it. which depend from the plate id as best'shown in Fig. 5. After hbeing movedainto the-desired position, it is secured. against displacemenhas by means of the screws 29' (Fig. 8-) The unit is thus compact rend-may be easilyand quickly removed for re- 9188811181111 .131113130365, erm the event thatany repairs er cleaning are required.

I Thewhea-ting..method which is utilized, and .w hichsh'as been described isa-iorm :of radiant heating, which-maintains 'ancomfortable environ-- 1 inent in a wholly enclosed unit by utilizing heat wavesuuhich;radiate from the large surfaces of the. bottom and; back ofthe incubator, warming everything, they touch-.1 In thissystem, the heat .waves prevent the'lossof body'heat. The air .within the .incubatoris not. hot (as in hot air systems); but.objects in the-.-incubator; such as themattress. and the-infant, are warm. More- -over, the temperatureucan be variedaccording to the individual requirements. The heating .units are .made ofa durable high quality material, and, are sealed in the bottom back of the -llfl3l1b3$0i,- entirely outside the infant cornpartment, thus eliminating any danger of the .inia-n-t .or, attendant coming into contact with .t'heinflDanger of oxygen ignition is also elimi- .nated.

.Asbest shown in Figs- 1-, 2, 33%, 6, '7 and 9, the. temperature.within the incubator may be controlled by means .of an adjustable thermostat .or thermoswitch $4. This constitutes the only control on theincubator, all of the regulators and heating .apparatuaworking in con junction with it. Theternperature maybe increased byturning thedialto the. right, or decreased by turningwit to the left. When the incubator is operating the required setting, the .thermoswitch will-automatically keep it at the temperature .desired. It is. scientifically ..calibrated.-,and tested for performance, and is so sensitive, that it permits only oneshalf degree variance. from the .desired.temperature. Reierence numeral .42. shows a neon gloindicating lamp 0.1:. build, ..Which,- when lighted, affords a .visualindication.that the. current. is on. Refthrough exhaust openings d5 (Figs. 3 and 8) in the-wall 2, adjacent the upper edge of the latter. The volume of air passing through the openings dd may be regulated by a damper Q5 slidable in tracks or guides t1 (Figs. 4 and 5), as by means or a'button it, the stem of which extends through a slot 49 in the wall 3. The

damper it is providediwith slots or openings 59,

which correspond in size-and spacingiwiththe openings M, and may be moved into. fullregis vtration with-the .latter (for maximum ..v.o1,ume air intake), .or completely cute-f registration with thelatter (to completely. close. the air in take).- Shnilarly, the volume .of air passing. out of theopeningsiii may be regulated .by a damper slidable in tracks or. guides 5'2. (Figs. .5 and 8),

by means of a button 5t, the sternoif which extends through a slot ki l. The damper .5! is providedwith slots or openings 55, which correspond in size and spacing with thev openings and may be movedinto fullregistration with the latter, (for maximum voiumeof .air. exhaust) or completely out of registrationwith the latter (to completely. close the airexhaust).

The dampers.thusregulate. the. amount or volume of air entering or leavingthe incubator, and can be locked in any desired position. The dampers may be completely closed, .when .it is desiredto administer oxygen .to the infant. .The may bev admitted into the. incubator through a tube 55. which isconnected .to and through the wall 2 of the incubator.. The inner end of. the tube 55. is readily accessible for attachmentof an oxygen mast; when acon- .centration of oxygen is needed.

also designed to provide a lower, compartment 5? which forms a. convenient, storagenornpartmerit for medicine and. other items. These compartments 58 and .59 are adaptedto be closed by doors fill and ti, which. are hinged to the front wall l attheir, outer vertical .edgeaand are, provided. with handles 2. ,The doors it and ti. are inset, jasshown in Fig.3, so that their outer faces are. flush with the .wall l of the incubator.

The incubator is movably supported; by; casters 623, the. front casters qbeingwproaided with brakes (not shown for locking the incubator, against movement.

In cases whereit is desiredto-obtain agreater concentration of. heat. under the humidifier compartnient (to the right of, the ibaifle --in Fig.

.5), so as .to increase the .rate of evaporation from the humidifier pan 2|, the-portion of the elements 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 to the right of the batlie 20 may be omitted, in which case, the heat from the elements 303| will reach the humidifier compartment more directly than when dissipated through the aforesaid radiating elements. This modification is not illustrated, since the manner in which it is accomplished will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims. Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In an incubator of the character described. a cabinet having a compartment adapted to receive an infant, said compartment being defined by end walls, an imperforate non-combustible bottom, an imperforate non-combustible rear wall, and a closure lid, and means for radiating heat to said bottom and rear wall without danger of transmission of sparks into said compartment, said means comprising a unit disposed below said bottom and having electrical heating elements and a plate having an extended heat radiating surface interposed between said elements and said bottom, said unit being out of contact with said bottom, whereby heat is radiated to said bottom through an air space, said cabinet being provided with spaced tracks, said unit being slidable on said tracks and being removable bodily from said cabinet, said unit being further provided with a vertical rear wall, in parallel spaced relation to said first-named rear wall, and said unit rear Wall being provided with flanges adapted to be screwed to said firstnamed rear wall.

2. An incubator, as defined in claim 1, in which said heat radiating plate has a vertical flange at the rear thereof extending upwardly into the space between said first-named rear wall and said unit rear wall, said flange adapted to radiate heat to said compartment rear wall.

RALPH LIVSEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,176,555 Hess Mar. 21, 1916 2,292,120 Hanby Aug. 4, 1942 2,417,962 Armstrong Mar. 25, 1947 

